By Nick Smith
Gongwer Staff Writer
A coalition seeking to rein in tobacco use among children is pushing for lawmakers to act on a bill package this fall that has been sitting in committee since late last year, which would end the sale of flavored tobacco products in Michigan.
The Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance has been calling on residents to contact their lawmakers to push for movement on an eight-bill Senate package introduced in December 2023. The effort includes mailers to residents and will also include billboards, as well as events by local organizations to draw attention to the health risks associated with tobacco use.
“It’s definitely moving a little slower than some of us would like, but it’s got a lot of support,” Tobacco Free Michigan Executive Director Paul Steiner said of the legislative process.
One part of the package would prevent the sale of flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and menthol flavored cigarettes.
Under the bills, tobacco retailers would be licensed similar to liquor retailers. Taxes on e-cigarettes and vaping products with nicotine would be enacted, as would an increase in the tobacco tax. Proceeds would be directed to tobacco prevention programs targeting youth.
The package includes SB 647 , SB 648 , SB 649 , SB 650 , SB 651 , SB 652 , SB 653 and SB 654 , which were referred to the Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee .
Steiner said there has been work on technical changes to the package to address some committee member concerns.
A key change would be to shift licensing enforcement provisions from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
Another change involves an exception for cultural usage of flavored tobacco products, which Steiner said deals with hookah lounges.
The bill package is stronger than previous versions, Steiner said, because the current set of bills was crafted with evidence-based practices known to help reduce and prevent tobacco use.
In the past, Steiner said, the legislation was usually written by the tobacco industry, with health care organizations and tobacco prevention groups seeking to improve the language.
According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, using federal data, about 14 percent of Michigan high school students use e-cigarettes and 1.7 percent of high school students smoke in some fashion. About 15.2 percent of Michigan adults also smoke.
Data shows about 16,200 Michigan residents die each year from smoking-related causes and the yearly health care costs associated with smoking total about $5.3 billion.
“It would be a game-changer,” Steiner said of passage of the bills. “A reduction in youth usage, evidence shows, would be very quick.”
Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint), one of the bill sponsors, said he is hopeful there will be hearings on the bills in the fall, but he was not sure of what the timeline may be for action, if any.
“Michigan compared to the rest of the nation, we’re really not where we should be,” Cherry said on tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
He also said an informational hearing in committee on vaping and tobacco products prior to the Legislature’s summer recess was productive.
Cherry agreed with Steiner’s take on the effectiveness of the bills if signed into law.
“This would really make a huge difference for the people of Michigan,” Cherry said.
Gongwer Staff Writer
A coalition seeking to rein in tobacco use among children is pushing for lawmakers to act on a bill package this fall that has been sitting in committee since late last year, which would end the sale of flavored tobacco products in Michigan.
The Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance has been calling on residents to contact their lawmakers to push for movement on an eight-bill Senate package introduced in December 2023. The effort includes mailers to residents and will also include billboards, as well as events by local organizations to draw attention to the health risks associated with tobacco use.
“It’s definitely moving a little slower than some of us would like, but it’s got a lot of support,” Tobacco Free Michigan Executive Director Paul Steiner said of the legislative process.
One part of the package would prevent the sale of flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and menthol flavored cigarettes.
Under the bills, tobacco retailers would be licensed similar to liquor retailers. Taxes on e-cigarettes and vaping products with nicotine would be enacted, as would an increase in the tobacco tax. Proceeds would be directed to tobacco prevention programs targeting youth.
The package includes SB 647 , SB 648 , SB 649 , SB 650 , SB 651 , SB 652 , SB 653 and SB 654 , which were referred to the Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee .
Steiner said there has been work on technical changes to the package to address some committee member concerns.
A key change would be to shift licensing enforcement provisions from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
Another change involves an exception for cultural usage of flavored tobacco products, which Steiner said deals with hookah lounges.
The bill package is stronger than previous versions, Steiner said, because the current set of bills was crafted with evidence-based practices known to help reduce and prevent tobacco use.
In the past, Steiner said, the legislation was usually written by the tobacco industry, with health care organizations and tobacco prevention groups seeking to improve the language.
According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, using federal data, about 14 percent of Michigan high school students use e-cigarettes and 1.7 percent of high school students smoke in some fashion. About 15.2 percent of Michigan adults also smoke.
Data shows about 16,200 Michigan residents die each year from smoking-related causes and the yearly health care costs associated with smoking total about $5.3 billion.
“It would be a game-changer,” Steiner said of passage of the bills. “A reduction in youth usage, evidence shows, would be very quick.”
Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint), one of the bill sponsors, said he is hopeful there will be hearings on the bills in the fall, but he was not sure of what the timeline may be for action, if any.
“Michigan compared to the rest of the nation, we’re really not where we should be,” Cherry said on tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
He also said an informational hearing in committee on vaping and tobacco products prior to the Legislature’s summer recess was productive.
Cherry agreed with Steiner’s take on the effectiveness of the bills if signed into law.
“This would really make a huge difference for the people of Michigan,” Cherry said.
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